By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
An “energetic crowd” of 250-plus people attended the second event hosted by Pali ❤️ Beats, which took place on Friday, September 19, at Gladstones.
Pali ❤️ Beats was founded by Highlands residents Andrew Hires and Nima Mashkouri to host fundraising events at still-standing venues in Pacific Palisades, providing music and a place for people to gather, while supporting local businesses and fundraising for workers affected by the fire.
DJ Nimazzo (Nima), DJ Ace (his son, Aria Mashkouri) and DJ Godwin (Hires), as well as special guest DJ Micha Smith, performed during the event, which was attended mostly by “fellow Palisadians.”
“The event was a ton of fun and I’m so glad that I’m able to do this for our community,” Aria said to the Palisadian-Post. “The energy of the event is the best part.”
Nima and Hires said they “love this venue,” when speaking of Gladstones. Kids and teenagers played on the sand, while adults “relaxed with food, drinks and great company.”
“We wanted to create something fun and inclusive for our community, a space where people of all ages could enjoy music, the beach and each other’s company,” Nima said. “Seeing families dancing together at sunset was honestly the best part.”
The first Pali ❤️ Beats event took place at Spruzzo. Nima and Hires said, since the inaugural event, they have received “many messages” from people asking when the next show would be.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Gladstones General Manager Jim Harris for his support and for welcoming us to such a spacious and beautiful location,” they said. “The event was a huge success. Everyone was dancing, connecting and simply enjoying the music and beachside vibe.”
The next Pali ❤️ Beats event will take place at Gladstones on Friday, October 24, from 6 to 10 p.m. It will feature special guest DJ DeepMe.
“We’re also proud to share that proceeds from this next event will benefit beloved Palisadian tennis coach Ron Booth, who has taught generations of local players,” the organizers said. “Ron, along with his wife Michelle and daughter Sofia, joined us at the last event, and it meant so much to have them there.”
Proceeds from the September 19 and upcoming October 24 event will be combined and given to Booth, Nima explained.
“Having the Pali ❤️ Beats group at Gladstones was such a highlight for us and the community,” Harris said. “Families dining and interacting, kids running wild on the beach without a care. Something for everyone. Can’t wait to have them back again.”
Hires, a professor of neuroscience at USC, has lived in the Palisades since 2014, first in Marquez Knolls before moving to the Highlands. His wife grew up in the Palisades, attending Marquez Charter Elementary, Paul Revere Charter Middle and Palisades Charter High schools.
Nima, who practices dentistry in Santa Monica, has lived with his wife and two children in the Highlands for 12 years.
Proceeds from the sold-out inaugural evening at Spruzzo went to support Palisades workers who were impacted by the fires, with one recipient in particular.
“We were thrilled to partner with Spruzzo for our first event,” the organizers said. “There were over 100 attendees, whose contributions allowed us to directly give over $2,500 to our first recipient, Coach Tara [Shriner].”
Over the course of 30 years, Coach Tara has taught “thousands of Palisades children” in the Palisades Hills Recreation Center pool, hosting up to 37 open group lessons per week at the time of the fire, they said.
For more information, including about the Gladstones event, visit instagram.com/dj.nimazzo.
